Metroid special section

Gaming Insurrection
reflects on the series that
introduced Samus Aran to
the world
ALL ABOUT METROID
Who is Samus Aran? …......... 3
Series symbolism …............... 5
Editor’s take …......................... 6
Did you know? …..................... 6
Metroid resources …............ 6
W
hen Metroid hit the
scene in 1986, there
weren’t many like
Samus Aran and the
eponymous jellyfish-like
creatures. No game had
a lead female protagonist
who could convey such
wonder and exploration as
Samus did in the series’ opening
game. With Samus’ introduction, the gaming world finally realized that women were
strong and able-bodied creatures that could
carry a game all by themselves.
What I have come to learn about
Metroid could fill volumes of an
encyclopedia. Super Metroid
was the first game that
really challenged me, as
a gamer, to think. Simply
think about what I was
doing, plot where I needed
to go, devise a strategy to
survive. It was through Metroid II
that I learned to appreciate antique
2
BY LYNDSEY HICKS
exploration. With Metroid, I learned to appreciate the advances made in technology.
Metroid was the catalyst for exploring my
roots and learning where I came from as a
gamer.
Metroid as a series isn’t just some series.
Rather, it’s a look at space and what happens when someone is forced to survive on
their own with virtually no help. Actually,
it’s a lot like the move Alien. That being
said, the starkness of Metroid’s landscape
provides an interesting case study in character design and back story. With the wonder and splendor of Samus’ environments
comes a detail unknown before Metroid.
Samus is one of the first fully fleshed out
characters in gaming history, and she is part
of Nintendo’s first-party crew that has fully
realized stories.
With this look at Metroid, the intention is
to examine Samus’ roots and the effect she
had as a progressive character. Samus is
the first lady of gaming. An elder stateswoman, if you will. Metroid’s roots lay in the
fact that the game was so challenging to
start and complete. Its present and future
rely on that fact, as well. With a longhinted-at sequel to Metroid Fusion on hiatus,
now is the time to look at Samus, where
she’s been and where she can go and decide if she should go there. Now is the time
to reflect on all that Samus has achieved as
a character and as a property and decide
her place in annals of gaming history. Now
is the time to give Samus the credit she is
due as a forerunner to the modern gaming
woman.
You can look at Samus and Metroid with a
critical eye and see it holds up under scrutiny. With tight gameplay and amazing — and
yes, we do mean amazing in every sense of
the word — music and atmosphere, Metroid
as a series has provided first-rate experiences to legions of gamers for at least 20
years. With this piece, we intend to look at
Metroid’s beginnings as an 8-bit standard
establisher for platforms and as a 16-bit
masterpiece. This is Gaming Insurrection’s
love letter to the character, the woman, the
warrior they call Samus Aran.
special section
Who is Samus Aran?
S
amus is the child of Virginia
and Mark Aran of the K-2L
Earth colony. Samus was
orphaned at the age of 3
during a Space Pirate raid on the
colony as the Pirates were in search
of resources. Samus was rescued by
the Chozo people and taken in to
live on their planet of Zebes. Given
blood transfusions so that she could
survive in the planet’s harsh climate
and habitat, Samus was trained and
molded into a warrior that could
protect the bird people. Eventually,
Samus was given a power suit specifically designed for her. The suit
functions as a life support system as
well as armament.
Samus set off to join the Galactic
Federation and, after an unknown
time, left the force to pursue life as
a bounty hunter.
Samus is the most called upon
hunter in the galaxy and frequently
brings success to the Federation.
It is this reputation that compels
the Federation to request that
Samus investigate the activities of
the Space Pirates on Zebes.
Reserve tank: Introduced in Super Metroid, Samus can carry four that hold a
maximum of 100 units each. When Samus’ main energy tanks are depleted, her
reserve tanks kick in to refill at max 400 units. This can be a lifesaver if you’re
between battles with no energy refill station nearby.
Ice Beam: Quite possibly the most useful of all Samus’
beams, this pickup first found in Metroid allows Samus to
freeze her enemies. This can create platforms for her or
provide access to otherwise unreachable places. It was the
ultimate beam for Samus in Metroid. It is distinctively blue.
Spring Ball: Samus’ acquires this ball form in Metroid II. It allows Samus to do a sort
of bounce maneuver in ball form. In Super Metroid, it is entirely skippable if you wish
as it does not really impact Samus’ ability to complete the game.
Wave Beam: The Wave Beam is necessary in Metroid but
loses importance in later missions. It allows Samus to shoot
through walls and other objects with a shot that arcs in a
wavy pattern. It is distinctively purple.
Varia Suit: Introduced in Metroid, the Varia Suit serves several
purposes. The suit reduces damage to Samus by half and also allows
Samus to enter the super-heated area of Norfair in Super Metroid. The suit is
distinctively orange and red.
Gravity Suit: Introduced in Super Metroid, the Gravity Suit negates the affect of water on Samus. She can
move fluidly through it with the suit activated, and the
suit reduces damage to Samus by three-fourths. The
suit is distinctively purple.
Charge Beam: Samus receives the Charge
Beam in Super Metroid. With it, she can store a
beam attack for future usage. Note: In the Super
Smash Bros. series, her charge shot is MUCH
larger and takes the place of most of her beams.
Screw attack: Arguably Samus’ most famous weapon,
the Screw Attack allows Samus to destroy enemies as she
does a somersault. It was first introduced in Metroid.
Hi-jump boots: A useful component to Samus’ armor, the
boots allow Samus to jump higher than normal. Many ledges
and otherwise unreachable areas become accessible with
these equipped.
Spazer Beam: The Spazer is present in
Metroid. Called the Long Beam In that game and
Spazer in Super Metroid, the Spazer allows Samus
to shoot three beams in one shot, widening and
lengthening the standard beam. The Spazer is
distinctively yellow.
Plasma Beam: The most powerful beam
Samus can acquire, the Plasma Beam was
introduced in Metroid II. With a distinctive green
color, the Plasma Beam gives Samus sheer
firepower over her enemies and is the only beam
powerful enough to face some enemies head
on. If you run out of missiles and Power Bombs,
using a charged Plasma Beam in conjunction with the Ice Beam
might just save your life.
A bounty
hunter’s
tools
special section
Space Jump: Introduced in Metroid II, the Space Jump
gives Samus the ability to fly. As long as she does a
somersault and the player taps left or right, Samus will
move higher in the air. This makes all previously out-of-reach
areas within range.
Speed booster:
Without the speed
booster, introduced
in Super Metroid,
Samus would
not be able to do Super Jumps
or run through some areas to
safety. The booster creates
afterimages of Samus when
activated. These afterimages can
be used to kill smaller creatures
and break some bricks.
Grappling Beam: Introduced in Super Metroid,
the Grappling Beam allows Samus to catch on to a
distinct-patterned block to swing across gaps that
she could not otherwise jump. It also can be used
to kill smaller enemies. This beam is necessary in
the early part of your mission, but loses importance
once the Space Jump and/or Screw Attack are gained.
Missiles: Samus can find missile containers scattered across Zebes and SR388. These containers add
five to Samus’ total in Metroid and Super Metroid and
10 in Metroid II. While they are used mostly to open
certain types of doors, Samus also uses them to kill
enemies and bosses. Samus can hold a maximum of
255 missiles in Metroid and 230 in Super Metroid.
NOTES:
n The Spazer was in Metroid, but was called the Long Beam.
n The Wave Beam and Plasma Beam switched functions in Super
Metroid. The Plasma Beam remained the strongest but the Wave
Beam allows Samus to shoot through walls, ceilings, etc.
n Beams could not be mixed in Metroid or Metroid II. Beams could
be combined, however, in Super Metroid. The only caveat is that the
Spazer and the Wave could not be activated at the same time.
Super Missiles: A stronger type of missile, these were
introduced in Super Metroid. Samus can hold 55 maximum.
scattered throughout Zebes and SR388 and are vital to Samus’
mission.
Bomb: Samus’ most basic weapon and also one of the
first that she will discover in her journey. The bomb is
set in morphing ball form and detonated automatically.
They cannot hurt Samus.
Morphing Ball: The first accessory that Samus will
find in the series is the Morphing Ball. Without it, Samus
cannot start her mission. The Morphing Ball is necessary
for Samus to drop bombs and advance through crevices
in all of her missions.
Power Bomb: A souped-up version of the bomb,
Samus discovers these in Super Metroid.
Energy tank: These are what sustains Samus in her
Power Suit. When she runs out of energy, it’s game
over. Energy tanks hold 100 units, and Samus can carry
eight in Metroid and 14 in Super Metroid. The tanks are
X-Ray Visor: Introduced in Super Metroid, the X-Ray
Visor allows Samus to shed light on hidden areas. It’s
useful in areas that you have never visited, but decreases
in value once you’ve been through the game a couple of
times. Like the Spring Ball, it’s not really necessary to
complete the game.
3
The story
so far ...
Metroid
Samus arrived on Zebes, and she immediately set about her investigation as to what Metroid
really were and who was behind their propagation.
In the course of her exploration, she discovered that Ridley, a Space Pirate general and also
the being in charge of the K-2L raid that killed her parents, was also in charge of the Metroid
propagation project. Kraid, another Space Pirate associated, was involved. These two were the
tip of the iceberg, however. Samus discovered that Mother Brain, a defense mechanism for the
planet controlled the Space Pirates, was the true mastermind of the plot to use Metroid. Using
this knowledge, Samus destroyed Mother Brain with weaponry and equipment she’d discovered
and escaped the planet as the Space Pirate base exploded.
Super Metroid
For a few brief minutes the galaxy was
at peace. But shortly after Samus left the
hatchling at Ceres, the Space Pirates attacked.
Led by Ridley, the scientists were slaughtered
and the hatchling stolen. Samus escaped the
exploding station and immediately set course
for Zebes.
Landing on Zebes, Samus relived her past
battle with Mother Brain as she journeyed
through the hollow-but-mysteriously rebuilt
halls of Crateria. Samus realized that the
Space Pirates had restarted their underground
operations and had begun a new project using
the Metroid to take over the galaxy. With
new weapons in tow, Samus took on old foes
Kraid and Ridley and new foes Phantoon and
Draygon. She was now ready to journey to
Tourian, the new lair of Mother Brain.
Reaching Tourian, Samus encountered several hostile Metroid. How could this be, Samus
wondered. She had killed all except one, and
it was then that Samus realized that these
Metroid were cloned from the hatchling. Samus pushed forward until she came to a room
where several creatures had been sucked dry
of life. Touching the carcasses, Samus watched
as they turned to dust. As the husk blew
away, Samus noticed the largest Metroid she
had ever seen approach. The Metroid quickly
attacked another enemy that was focused on
Samus, and killed it. It then swooped down
upon Samus. She tried to fight it off but grew
weaker and weaker as the Metroid siphoned
her energy. Suddenly, the Metroid seemed to
recognize Samus. Yes, this was the same Metroid hatchling she’d rescued during the SR388
incident. The Metroid, now of monstrous
room-filling size, realized what it had done. It
wavered above Samus for a few moments and
then flew away, seemingly ashamed.
Samus, slowly recovering from her brush
with death, moved forward desperately trying
to find the Metroid. She refilled her energy
and missiles and discovered the door leading
Metroid II: The Return of Samus
With Samus’ success on Zebes, the
Galactic Federation foresaw the emergence
of the Metroid threat. After sending a team
to SR388 — home of the Metroid — and
losing them, the Federation retained the
services of Samus Aran. Because she had
dealt with the Metroid menace before,
Samus was sent to eradicate the species.
As before, Samus gathered weapons on
SR388 to help with the mission.
After eliminating the smaller Metroid,
Samus faced off against the Queen
Metroid. Samus destroyed it and discovered a Metroid hatchling. Hesitant to kill it,
Samus recovered the creature after it had
imprinted her as its mother. Samus took
the hatchling to the Ceres Space Colony
so that scientists could study it for more
information on the species … “the last
Metroid was in captivity and the galaxy
was at peace.”
4
to Mother Brain. Samus moved through the
rooms, finally reaching Mother Brain. The
brain was surrounded by a glass tank and
set up at a dead end. Reminiscent of her
first battle with Mother Brain, Samus used
her missiles to injure the throbbing brain. It
seemed to work as the stand holding the
pulsating gray matter shattered. However,
Samus wasn’t done by a long shot.
The brain fell to the floor and for a moment was still. Suddenly, the brain attached
itself to a bi-pedal body and rose. Samus
immediately steeled herself for battle.
Mother Brain and Samus traded shots until
the brain used a life-draining beam that
immediately blasted Samus against the wall.
Not satisfied with merely injuring Samus,
the brain wrenched back ready to blast the
bounty hunter into oblivion. At the last second, the Super Metroid flew in and attacked
Mother Brain! The Metroid drained the brain
and then tended to Samus. It restored her
life, but as it was doing so, the not-so-dead
Mother stood up. The brain began firing at
the Metroid, which had finished restoring
Samus. The Metroid then took last swoop
at Mother Brain. The brain shot a final time
and killed the Metroid. As it disintegrated,
its remains fell about Samus and the bounty
hunter began to glow. Samus was now
imbued with the life of the Metroid; she now
had the Hyper Beam.
Using her newfound weapon, Samus
began focusing her shots at the brain. She
dodged the desperate being’s shots and
countered with forceful blasts of her own.
Finally, the brain fell. Mother Brain was no
more. However, because the brain was tied
to the Zebes’ defense system, a self-destruct
sequence was set and Samus had to escape.
As the time ticked down, Samus made her
way through the back rooms of Tourian and
Crateria and up the shaft she had originally
taken to start her journey. As she was leaving, she thought back to the friends she’d
encountered during her mission, and instinct
told her they were nearby. She stopped on
the way out of Crateria and blasted through
a room she’d long ago visited in search of
weapons. There, she found the Etecoons and
Dachola, which had taught her important
techniques vital to her mission. Samus
blasted a hole for them, ensuring they made
it off the planet, and then made her way to
her own ship. She arrived just in time and
escaped the exploding mass.
Samus was free to explore the galaxy
and take on new bounty. The hunter knew
that despite the eradication of the Metroid
species and the threat of the Space Pirates,
the Galactic Federation would be calling upon
her once again to save the galaxy.
special section
ymbolism and iconography play
a large part in many video games
from the 1980s. Many companies
invoked mythology in their titles
and based their characters off of existing
properties. Metroid is no stranger to this.
I have always gotten the impression
that Samus’ power suit design was influenced through the “Predator” character
of mainstream movies and through Ellen
Ripley of “Alien/Aliens” lore. Also, as a
small child afraid of the “Alien” movies, when I picked up Super Metroid and
began playing through, I always thought
Samus somewhat resembled the alien
from the eponymous movies. Later, after
seeing pictures of the Predator, I realized
the connection. She is, however, far more
cool, in my opinion.
With the evolution of Samus’ design in
the past 20 years, more symbolic liberties
have been taken. Samus, revealed to be
female at the end of the first adventure to
those brave enough to make it through,
was originally designed to be male. Partially through development of the game,
a designer thought the change should
be made. At the time of Samus’ creation,
there were few female protagonists. Samus was the first, the herald of a new era.
While her Power Suit’s design is designed
to look male, there is still the subtle hint
of a female beneath it. One can see it by
special section
Lyndsey Hicks
EDITOR’S TAKE
looking at the contour of the metal and
seeing the intent for shapely hips and
legs.
Also in her suit’s design, Samus has
been modeled to look much like a bird.
Given that the Chozo, a birdlike race in
Metroid lore, created the suit, one could
expect her to mimic birds. Her graceful
movements and sharp features within
the suit do appear birdlike. The Chozo’s
influence can also be seen in the statues
that hold items upgrades for Samus.
Gamewise, there are several clues that
are scattered across the first three games
that Samus is female.
The first is, of course, if you finish
Metroid. Depending on your ending,
you can see Samus’ true form. Now,
some would say “Just read the instruction manual.” However, it wasn’t that
simple. Just by reading the instruction
manual, you would never know that she
was female. That’s because Samus was
described as “he” throughout. This was
probably intentional, intended to throw
off players and make them work for the
good ending.
The second is in Metroid II. At the end
of the game Samus comes across the
final Metroid, a hatchling that had been
protected by the Metroid Queen. After
Samus has destroyed all of its brethren,
the hatchling is described in Super Metroid as looking at Samus as though she
were its mother and following Samus like
a confused child. That is the essence of
femininity.
The third can be seen in Super Metroid.
Super Metroid is the first in the series to
provide players with a map. In the course
of discovery, the map changes from blue
to pink.
I don’t think that was a coincidence on
the part of the developers, especially since
her suit turns pink in Metroid once the
Varia suit is acquired. That did not escape
this writer’s notice.
The evolution of the Metroid race also
holds a type of symbolism. The eponymous Metroid resemble jellyfish with
large teeth or claws, depending on your
take. Also, at the end of Super Metroid
— without giving too much away – the
Metroid and Samus’ destinies become
intertwined. Without them, Samus would
not live on. On the other hand, living with
them wasn’t an option, either. It’s this
mingling of the two entities that ensures
that symbolic nature of the name Metroid
lives on despite the final Metroid’s destruction.
The final symbolic piece of Metroid is
the usage of exploration. Every Metroid
game has included exploration for Samus
to reach her final goals. “Metroid instinct”
— a term coined by Metroid Database
website founder TJ — outright requires
bombing and shooting anything that
seems suspicious and could possibly lead
to new areas. This sort of natural instinct
is found in every game with the word
Metroid in the title. In fact, when gamers
talk about Metroid, the first things that
come to mind are good music and the innate sense to bomb everything in sight as
it may lead to something good more often
than not.
One can only help but wonder what
future games in the Metroid series will
hold in terms of symbolism. With hope,
this writer wishes for the series to come
back to its roots on main consoles and
reach back to its 2D brethren in a nod to
its glorious past.
5
DID YOU KNOW?
METROID
RESOURCES
Metroid and Kid Icarus are “sister games.” Both were developed
and released in Japan in 1986. Hirokazu “Hip” Tanaka composed
the music for both games, and they both utilize a password
system in the United States — the first of its kind on the NES.
These are just a few of the similarities that the games share.
If you’re looking for information about Samus and her
exploits, look no further than
the Metroid Database.
Founded in 1996, it is the
first and foremost place to
visit in search of help with
your favorite Metroid game,
maps, music and other media
based off everyone’s favorite
bounty hunter. Visit them at
www.metroid-database.com
Metroid is retold with the Game Boy Advance game Metroid:
Zero Mission. This retelling includes new bosses and a mission
added at the end of the original game.
The first game in the series to feature an in-game map is
Super Metroid. The undiscovered areas on the map are blue;
discovered areas (or visited areas) are pink.
METROID PONDERINGS
If Samus faced the Metroids at the end of the first
game, and she knew how to defeat them, why
weren’t the teams sent to SR388 informed of the
ways to kill them?
Was the Mother Brain at the end of the first game
one of many Mother Brains (you fight a second one
at the end of Super Metroid), or was it the same
Mother Brain from the first game?
Answer: It is the original Mother Brain, who first encountered
Samus on Zebes as a child. The later Aurora Units were based
off this original Mother Brain.
Where is Mother Brain’s bi-pedal body in Super
Metroid stored? It’s not immediately visible after you
defeat her glass jar incarnation, so where did the space pirates
put it?
Answer: The body is stored underneath the glass tank that
the Brain is stored in. It quickly attaches to the head and rises
from the floor.
Whose Wrecked Ship is it in Super Metroid?
Answer: According to the Metroid Wiki, the ship belongs to astronauts from an ancient civilization that crash landed on Zebes.
Who created the weapons and left them for Samus
on Zebes and SR388?
Answer: The Power Suit is confirmed to have been made by
Mother Brain and the Chozo, whom Mother Brain was created
by and working for.
How did Kraid fit into his room in Super Metroid?
We know his appearance has been retconned so that he did
not grow to be two screens tall between the three games, but
how did he fit in that room by himself? Likewise, did Ridley
teleport into and out of his chamber?
6
Reflecting on Metroid: The
series that gave me an identity
M
etroid is one of those
vent of the Internet, so information
game series that come
was a little hard to come by without
along that change the
reading gaming magazines.
way you think about
Once I started playing, I was little
games. It isn’t just a pioneer. It
lost at first but slowly but surely
isn’t just a game you can play and
found my shooting legs. After about
be done with once you’re finished.
six months, I could find my way
It’s one of those truly life-changing
around the file I’d chosen to play
games that make you question just
and I had a “wingwoman.” My
what it is you know about playing
wingwoman was a friend who also
video games.
loved the character. We played the
My first exposure to the Metroid
game together, she pointing out
series came when I was 13 years
places I needed to go and walls I
old. I received Super
needed to bomb. Having
Metroid as a gift for
that extra set of eyes helped
Christmas. I had no
with a game as large as
instruction manual,
Super Metroid. Sure, it’s linno guide. All I had
ear, but it’s still big enough
was a cartridge for
for two people to navigate.
my Super Nintendo
Within a year, my wingand three alreadywoman and I were closing
played files on it.
in on Ridley and Mother
Suddenly, I was
Brain. It was then that I
Lyndsey Hicks
thrust into the world
discovered Samus is female.
that is Metroid with EDITOR’S TAKE And it was also at this time
a character I’d never
that I decided to name my
heard of to fight against equally
first-born daughter after her when I
unheard-of villains. I take that back:
ever got around to having children.
I had heard of Mother Brain, alMy fascination with the character
beit many years before through the
finally led us to the end of the game
“Captain N” cartoon that I watched
and the official Nintendo Player’s
when I came home from school.
Guide. Afterward, we rejoiced in
Samus was so foreign to me then.
the fact that we’d beaten a Metroid
It, rather she as I found out later,
game. My best time remains 1:54,
was so unique. My first impression
even after 15 years of playing.
of the character was of the PredaMy experiences with Super Metor movies and of Alien. I wanted
troid led me to try the other two
to find out more about her and
games (at the time) in the series.
why she was hunting these animals
Having played Super Metroid and
called Metroid. Keep in mind that
then Super Smash Bros., I decided
this was in the days before the adI wanted to give the original game
I gained
“ InaSamus,
positive role
model at a crucial age.
Teenagers and preteens,
especially girls, need
someone or something
positive and strong in
their lives, and Samus
filled that role for me.
Samus is, for me at
least, the embodiment
of what a strong female
character should be.
”
a shot. While it’s not my favorite
game, it was an eye-opener in terms
of showing me how far Samus and
Metroid, as a whole, had come.
Metroid II expanded that outlook
although it, too, is not my favorite
game.
What I have learned from Metroid
has stayed with me for the majority
of my adult life. In Samus, I gained a
positive role model at a crucial age.
Teenagers and preteens, especially
girls, need someone or something
positive and strong in their lives,
and Samus filled that role for me.
Samus is, for me at least, the embodiment of what a strong female
character should be.
Other game designers and companies could learn a lesson from
Samus’ design and concepts: Strong
female characters rule.
special section